Somkid tells Prayut to not fear coalition partners

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

FORMER DEPUTY PRIME Minister Somkid Jatusripitak today (Nov.4) told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to not fear any coalition partners who might possibly no longer support him for head of a post-election government again.

Somkid, who currently acts as chairman of the Sang Anakhot Thai Party, advised Prayut not be concerned over possibilities that the current coalition partners might no longer endorse him for prime minister after the next general election only if he failed to meet their conditional demands, albeit raised behind closed doors.

Without elaborating, the former deputy premier and former finance minister apparently referred to the largest Palang Pracharath Party, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the second-largest coalition partner Bhumjaithai Party, de facto led by Newin Chidchob, and the third-largest coalition partner Democrat Party, de facto led by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai.

“What’s the use of being prime minister who cannot help out the people in trouble? A good prime minister must keep his word about things to do for the people,” said the Sang Anakhot Thai chairman.

Somkid commented that a good prime minister must never bow to political pressure or whimsical demands from any coalition partners and that he himself has never been personally inspired to become head of government after the nationwide election expected early next year, though the brand-new Sang Anakhot Thai Party would likely name him a partisan contender for the top post of the executive branch.

Meanwhile, Somkid remarked that some 130 MPs representing over 20 million people in varied constituencies throughout the northeastern region, the country’s largest, have obviously failed to help their own people who have been considerably affected by flooding and sustained price slumps for their farm goods.

Those MPs might probably keep themselves preoccupied with ways and means to get themselves reelected and at the same time failing to do enough for the sake of their own constituents, according to the former deputy premier.

He made his comments whilst accompanying Sang Anakhot Thai leadership on a trip to the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani which has been largely affected by flooding, among others.

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Former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak in Ubon Ratchathani province today. Photos: Thai Rath

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